FIA WEC: Jan Lammers set for his 24th Le Mans with Racing Team Nederland

Jan Lammers will return to Racing Team Nederland for his 24th Le Mans 24 Hours in June, joining Frits Van Eerd and Giedo van der Garde in the Dallara P217. 

© Racing Team Nederland

Racing Team Nederland earlier announced its entry to the 2018/2019 FIA World Endurance Championship "super season", which includes twice the Le Mans 24 Hours. Last season Lammers drove the entire European Le Mans Championship together with Frits Van Eerd and was joined by Rubens Barichello at Le Mans.  Lammers will also join Van Eerd and van der Garde at the opening round at Spa-Francorchamps in May, whether he will continue to race with Racing Team Nederland after Le Mans is still unsure. 

Jan Lammers (61) won the race in 1988 and with his 24th participation will become part of a highly select group; only 5 drivers have more starts to their name in the 95-years old Le Mans 24 Hours. Henri Pescarolo hold the all time "record" with 33 starts, ahead of Bob Wollek (30), Yojiro Terada (29), Derek Bell (26) and François Migault (25). 

Frits van Eerd, founder as well as one of the drivers of Racing Team Nederland: “Jan is a true Le Mans legend and involved with Racing Team Nederland from day one. I think it is fantastic that he will join us this year for his 24th Le Mans 24 Hours. It will be a very special milestone.”

Jan Lammers: “Frits and Racing Team Nederland are giving me the chance to do my 24th Le Mans 24 Hours this June, which is really great! To be perfectly prepared, I will also join Frits and Giedo for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May, the opening round of the world championship. Frits owes it to his ambitions to gather the fastest drivers around him. I may still be quick “for my age”, but if after Le Mans a fast and young successor will be available, I will step back in the interest of the team and the results. I may have other opportunities to keep on racing after Le Mans, and of course I will remain closely involved with Racing Team Nederland.  I can’t express how grateful I am for being given this chance!”

Jan Lammers will also feature as guest of honour at the annual Classic British Welcome on Friday before the race. 

Kristof Vermeulen.

FIA WEC: van der Garde joins Racing Team Nederland

Racing Team Nederland, the first Dutch team entering the FIA World Endurance Championship, has announced Giedo van der Garde as one of their drivers for the WEC "Super Season". 

32 year old Giedo van der Garde, a former Fomula 1 driver, debuted in sportscar racing in 2016, winning the European Le Mans title in the Jota/G-Drive Oreca with Simon Dolan and Harry Tincknell.  With Racing Team Nederland, the Dutchman now returns to endurance racing for a full world championship campaign in a Gibson powered Dallara P217.

Frits van Eerd, founder of Racing Team Nederland and the designated Am driver in the team: “I am delighted that Giedo has joined us. He is fast, experienced and highly motivated. Our debut in the world championship is a fantastic challenge, so it’s great to embark on it with a driver of this calibre.”

Giedo van der Garde: “I am very happy that Racing Team Nederland and Frits have given me this great opportunity. I like the team’s ambitions and I want to be a part of it. The world championship is highly competitive and the Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the greatest races in the world. It will be special to compete in it again. The target is that as a team, we will keep improving each other, so that ultimately we can challenge for the podium. I am very much looking forward to it! In my first race in endurance racing I became champion, but in the Le Mans 24 Hours we retired on Sunday morning. Because of my love for endurance racing, as well as the history and romanticism of Le Mans, I can’t wait to start racing for Racing Team Nederland.”

FIA WEC: Racing Team Nederland enters 2018/2019 Super season

Racing Team Nederland announced they will enter the FIA World Endurance Championship, making it the first Dutch team to compete in the world championship for sportscars since its inception in 2012.

© JellyBabyMedia

Racing Team Nederland debuted in this year’s European Le Mans Series, running a Gibson powered Dallara P217 in the LMP2 class, driven by team owner Frits Van Eerd and Le Mans legend Jan Lammers.  The team also made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Rubens Barichello joined the 2 Dutchmen behind the wheel of their Dallara, finishing in 13th place overall, 11th in its LMP2 class. 

The team has now submitted its entry for the 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship "super season", including 2 times the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  They will hold on to their Dallara P217 which makes them the first team to enter the FIA WEC with another chassis than Oreca in the LMP2 class.  

More information about the team's entry and the announcement of the two drivers joining Frits Van Eerd behind the wheel of the Jumbo sponsored car will be given early February 2018. 

Frits van Eerd, founder and one of the drivers of Racing Team Nederland: “I am truly proud that following our debut year we will be making such a significant and ambitious step. With our participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship, The Netherlands will be represented at the highest level of sportscar racing.”

The coming weeks, Racing Team Nederland will orientate itself regarding the drivers who will race its LMP2 Dallara P217 alongside Frits. Subsequently, the team will present all details of its FIA World Endurance Championship 2018/19 during its official press launch next year.

Kristof Vermeulen.

Picture: JellyBaby.Media